Pierce County’s Workforce Central has received $5.4 million in annual federal funds for skills training and job-hunting help.

The money was part of nearly $41 million distributed by the state’s Employment Security Department, according to a news release Thursday.

The state’s Workforce Development Councils provide counseling, skills assessments, job-search assistance and training to laid-off workers, low-income adults and disadvantaged young people in their geographic areas, the news release said.

Workforce Investment Act funds are distributed to the local workforce development areas based on population, unemployment levels and the percentage of low-income people, the release said. The total appropriation is about $3.7 million less than last year.

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In Pierce County, that resulted in an allocation about $200,000 less than last year.

Thurston County is served by the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, which includes Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Pacific counties. It received $3.3 million, also about $200,000 less than last year.